Tag Archives: tutorial

🎄Mini Tree Problem & Matrix Repair (2020)🎄

I had a little problem with the mini trees. I put them together backwards. I’ll show you the difference. I also had a pixel go out on my matrix so I show the repair. Thankfully, the weather cooperated.

Some Good, Some Bad, Some Ugly (2018)

I had some time this past weekend to work on one of the props bothering me a little. The new frame did what I wanted. After reaching a stopping point, I noticed something really bad.

Black Friday! SetUp Day (week) – Part 2 (2018)

Message to new subscribers and completed setup. Complete walkthru and some prop construction details.

Keith’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf7uLhUObAk
My beginner playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFyrAfJ-kKd4ZfPdXWIt8v_bav61mW_KW

My online course for RGB Pixel beginners: https://bit.ly/2NgNJFm (designed to bring someone up to speed quickly – you won’t need to take this course if you’ve seen all my videos)

Amazon Links: https://amzn.to/2PJoNY5

SetUp Day (week) – Part 1 – Still Fabricating (2018)

Started setting up the display this week because I have a lot to do (new stuff) and weather may not be great as we get closer to Thanksgiving. I didn’t make a ton of progress, but am set up for the weekend work.

Home Assistant RGB Pixel Pathway Lighting (2018)

This is a slight departure from my normal RGB pixel display videos. We look at using strip lights as pathway lights and controlling them through Home Assistant. I go through setting up Home Assistant and programming the NodeMCU modules using Ben’s code on GitHub.

SD Card Formatter: https://www.sdcard.org/
Etcher Image Writer: https://etcher.io
Home Assistant: https://www.home-assistant.io/
CloudMQTT: https://www.cloudmqtt.com/
Arduino IDE: https://www.arduino.cc
Multi-sensor GitHub Page: https://bit.ly/2GUnSmQ
Pixel controller GitHub Page: https://bit.ly/2IKBLR7

Parts Lists:

Multi-Sensor

Pixel Controller

My YAML configuration for this:

# Binary Sensors
binary_sensor:
  - platform: threshold
    name: isdark
    entity_id: sensor.light_level
    lower: 100
    hidden: true

# Regular Sensors
sensor:
  - platform: template
    sensors:
      rgbtemp:
        friendly_name: RGB Temp
        value_template: >-
          {% if states('sensor.temperature')|float > 79.9 %}
            Hot
          {% elif states('sensor.temperature')|float < 70 %}
            Cold
          {% else %}
            Just Right
          {% endif %}

Automations

- alias: Stair Pathway Lighting On       
  trigger:                               
    - platform: state                    
      entity_id: binary_sensor.isdark    
      to: 'on'                           
    - platform: state                    
      entity_id: sensor.rgbtemp          
  condition:                             
    - condition: state                   
      entity_id: binary_sensor.isdark    
      state: 'on'                        
  action:                                
    - service: mqtt.publish              
      data_template:                     
        topic: "mqtt/topic"         
        payload: >-                      
          {% if is_state('sensor.rgbtemp', 'Hot') %}
            {"state":"ON","color":{"r":255,"g":100,"b":100},"brightness":6,"effect":"solid"}
          {% elif is_state('sensor.rgbtemp', 'Cold') %}                                     
            {"state":"ON","color":{"r":100,"g":100,"b":255},"brightness":6,"effect":"solid"}
          {% else %}                                                                        
            {"state":"ON","color":{"r":100,"g":200,"b":100},"brightness":6,"effect":"solid"}
          {% endif %}                                                                       
                                                                                            
- alias: Stair Pathway Lighting Off                                                         
  trigger:                                                                                  
    - platform: state                                                                       
      entity_id: binary_sensor.isdark                                                       
      to: 'off'                                                                             
  condition:                                                                                
    - condition: state                                                                      
      entity_id: light.stair_strip                                                          
      state: 'on'                                                                           
  action:                                                                                   
    - service: mqtt.publish                                                                 
      data_template:                                                                        
        topic: "mqtt/topic"                                               
        payload: '{"state":"OFF"}'                                                          
                                                                                            

HOW TO GET STARTED with RGB Pixels (2018)

Here’s the basics for getting started using RGB Pixels for your light display.

Falcon Pixel Controllers: www.pixelcontroller.com
SanDevices Pixel Controllers: sandevices.com
Falcon Player Software: falconchristmas.com/wiki/Falcon_FPP
xLights sequencing software: xlights.org
Lighting 101 Manual: bit.ly/2FpyHMq
Christmas Expo: www.christmasexpo.com
Keith’s YouTube channel: bit.ly/2tjYhNM

Amazon Affiliate Links:
Raspberry Pi 3 (board only) amzn.to/2jtVXvt
Raspberry Pi 3 (full starter kit) amzn.to/2Ad7oli
MeanWell 12V Power Supply amzn.to/2kaWnLC
Non-MeanWell 12V Power Supply amzn.to/2oI2p5K

Christmas Lighting Forums:
AusChristmasLighting.com
DIYChristmas
DoItYourselfChristmas
FalconChristmas
xLights
PlanetChristmas

Facebook Groups:
Advanced RGB Pixels and Controllers
Official xLights Support Group
FPP, Falcon Player

WHAT ARE THESE THINGS CALLED – Sticks? (2018)

I finally put these things together, but I have no idea what to call them other than “sticks.” They look kinda cool and I need more verticals in the display.

DMX Moving Head, Falcon & xLights (2018)

DMX moving head lights are gaining popularity in lighting displays. We can automate them in xLights and run them from a Falcon F16V3. They’re also a lot of fun!

2PC 60W RGBW Mini Beam Spot Moving Head Stage Light DMX Bar Party DJ Disco Light

RGB Pixel Wall Washer Rebuild (2018)

The Wall Washer turned out to be an ineffective design. I changed out the pixels in order to throw more light.

RGB Pixel Wreath Rebuild

I had planned on replacing the pixels in the wreath prior to the season last year, but ran out of time. The wreath made that a priority this year. The video includes a power injection demo.